Jim Bentley happy with Carlisle draw as Morecambe edge towards safety

Posted Sunday, April 15, 2018 by PA

Morecambe manager Jim Bentley was the happier of the tow bosses after seeing his side earn a 1-1 draw against Carlisle at the Globe Arena.

While the point boosts Morecambe’s Sky Bet League Two survival hopes, Carlisle needed victory to maintain any serious play-off aspirations.

Jamie Devitt gave Carlisle the lead from a superb free-kick against his former club but the hosts drew level on the half-hour as Adam McGurk swung in a cross from the right wing and Callum Lang nipped in between two Carlisle defenders to head past Jack Bonham.

Bentley said: “It is a point that takes us a step closer to safety but we are not there yet.

“We still have a lot to play for this season and we are taking nothing for granted but it was an important point for us.

“It was a really good game and we showed a lot of spirit to get back into it after going behind.

“We started well but were then undone by a great Jamie Devitt free-kick and had to show a lot of spirit to get back into the game.

“We kept plugging away and got our just rewards with an excellent Callum Lang goal and from then it could have gone either way.

“They probably had the upper hand in the second half but we could have won it right at the death.”

The second half saw Carlisle enjoy the greater share of possession without creating too many chances.

The visitors also had a claim for a penalty when Barry Roche bundled Ashley Nadesan over in the box before Devitt was booked for diving as he looked for a cheeky spot-kick.

Carlisle boss Keith Curle said: “It was disappointing because we had a lot of possession but just lacked that bit of guile in the final third.

“We seem to have lost that ability to force a goal at the moment. We lacked the fundamentals in certain areas of our play where we need to build up our play and needed to be more creative in and around their goal.

“Some of our play was good but some of football let us down in key areas. It was a game where we really missed the likes of Nicky Adams and Jason Kennedy who would have loved a match like that with their extra bit of quality and nous.

“Their keeper only really had two shots to save despite our pressure and we know we need to do better. We want to end the season on a high and there is no lack of effort, spirit and commitment and we will keep that going for the final few games of the season.”